This is the city: Los Angeles, California. I work here. I'm an ex-mayor. Los Angeles is a magnet for people from all over the world. Some of them run for public office. Inevitably some of them stray from the golden rule and rule for those that have the gold. That's when I go to work. My name is Yorty. I'm a dead pol.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

One of our readers says that the medical marijuana community is coming out strong for candidate Frank Sheftel. We've found at least some evidence of that at 420 Magazine where a commenter says the following:

"What really catches my fancy is that Frank Sheftel has been a strong voice for services for the valley that benefit the people who live there AND he’s nbeen an educated advocate on the medical marijuana issues that LA County has faced for the past several years. We need someone who has this experience and viewpoint on the City Council. Because heck, as far as I can see, the City Council is slowly but surely eroding and crushing all the rights voters have endorsed to have safe access to medical marijuana dispensaries."

No stems or seeds!

I predict that Sheftel will be very strong in Valley Village and should hit 4th - 6th place depending how the rest of the chips fall.

Sheftel is endorsed by JEMM magazine and on the cover. How'd you miss that one Higby? LAJEMM.com and also an article in kushla. He's in the run-off for sure if those people come out and vote. Pass the joint Councilman Sheftel.

5:21, give it up. I think it's over and not a whole lot of votes to be swayed in this comment section at this point. By the time people get home, it's over. And do you think people are still deciding at this point? What are you going to do now that all of this circus hyperbole is over? Maybe there is a demonstration somewhere.

So much for all of Tamar's little groups of people. Whoa--impressive. They're serious weight pullers, vote-getters, etc. Ha Ha

We were right when we lost respect for Joe B. All it really did was make those of us who wanted to vote for a "cash-poor" 7, and don't like Galatzan-know that we had to vote for Paul on our mission to keep out Essel. You left us no choice.

If we thought you were backing one of the real grassroots, we might have been able to join in. But you chose one of "them". Again though, it doesn't appear you have the pull that some people seem to believe.

If one NC person votes for Chris Essel, then I will be convinced that there is no way they are ready for prime time. No way in hell. No person who cares about, is a board member of, sits on a committee of, or is a stakeholder in their local neighborhood council has no reason to vote for and all the reason in the world to vote against - Essel.

There are many good persuasive arguments on why America should legalize marijuana; the problem is that fact has not translated into real political pressure on the people who can change the laws. One of the problems inhibiting legalization is that people that smoke a glass pipe or a hand rolled marijuana cigarette are not considered serious or mature. It is this stigma and the illegal nature of pot that makes people hide their use from public view, therefore reality of who uses pot is different than it seems. Marijuana Legislation is a serious issue and that has profound effects on crime the economy and society. In the end it is up to us to be public about our choices and to voice our opinions to the ones that ultimately decide what is legal. Every hand written letter that makes it to a representative is considered to be the voice of a thousand people who did not take the time to write. Send an email, send a letter, make a phone call and get counted.